An Interview with Apuroopa Kavikondala: On Mental Health Action Week at Purdue University

by Mikaela Brewer for The 44 North, Senior Editor

The Winner of MHAW’s Philanthropy Challenge, in partnership with Mental Health America, Wabash Valley Region, via Apuroopa Kavikondala

"Now the president of MHAW 2027, I’m incredibly excited to continue fostering this mission and environment on Purdue’s campus with our Boilermakers, because the impact won’t stay in West Lafayette; it’ll grow everywhere." 

Editor’s Note:

Mental Health Action Week (MHAW) is a student-led organization at Purdue University that brings a dedicated week of mental health programming to campus each spring (March 2-6th, 2026, this year). For the past seven years, they’ve fostered a campus culture rooted in support, understanding, and resilience around mental health. 

The MHAW team believes this initiative not only strengthens their campus but also advances the broader effort to destigmatize mental health. I spoke with MHAW 2027’s president, Apuroopa Kavikondala, about the impact of this work. 

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Mikaela Brewer (MB): I’m inspired by how hard you worked to reflect and build in all parts of student life/experience throughout the week: Conversation, academics, community/culture, movement/nourishment, and creativity. What offerings seemed to resonate most with students? With you? Did anything pleasantly surprise you about this year’s lineup, in particular?

Apuroopa Kavikondala (AK): We were so excited to involve all parts of student life during this week! From clubs and student organizations to athletics, the various colleges (such as Engineering and the Business School), and even our very own Recreational Sports Center, which hosted various events in honour of MHAW, to collaboration in our mission, our commitment made MHAW 2026 a success. Some examples of student organizations contributing to our cause include: 

• Our kickoff celebration in partnership with Purdue Student Government and various other mental health organizations, such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

• The run club hosting a run in honour of MHAW and mental health

• Our Unity Day celebration to honour what our well-being thrives on—community and connection. The celebration included food, performances, a creativity fair, our special guest, Purdue Pete (our mascot), and so much more!

• A stress-board-breaking event by the Taekwondo club, where you’d write your stressors on a board and then break it!

• A weeklong fundraiser challenge with fraternities, sororities, and cooperative life (FSCL), where half of the donations were directed to philanthropy and half to our partnership with Mental Health America (Wabash Valley Region)

A hand-drawn MHAW 2026 poster, stickers, and t-shirts at an outdoor booth, via Apuroopa Kavikondala

Overall, students loved the variety of events we hosted because no matter what they were interested in, they were able to participate. It made students feel like they belonged and were heard, even in the busyness of our lives.

MB: I love the imagery, story, and metaphor you wove into MHAW. Could you share more about why growth and blooming are so central to what you (and former students!) have built and offered over the past 7 years? 

AK: MHAW used to be a part of the Purdue Student Government (fully hosted by them), so this was our first year as our own organization! The reason we wanted to make growth/plants our theme was that it’s so central to how life works and moves. Everything blooms, and then it falls/decays like leaves in Autumn. In due time, it’ll bloom again, and that’s what mental health and well-being are about. We go through phases, and that’s human! It’s very important to rely on one another and seek support, especially in those times of regrowth. 

MB: You’ve done excellent, empowering work connecting people, staff, resources, spaces, etc., to bring MHAW to life. From the outside, peeking in, it feels real: I see an authentic, full-community, hands-on gathering where everyone both gives and receives care. What did it feel like to nurture these relationships and bring so many people together in support of a shared goal? How might your work be a model for other university students hoping to do something similar? And beyond, across workplaces, politics, etc.?

MHAW logo, via Apuroopa Kavikondala

AK: Purdue has such a great community around well-being and mental health, the MH one being Purdue CAPS (Counselling and Psychological Services), so it was beautiful to see the collaborations come to life during the week. Mental health is universal; we all have it, we all struggle, and we all must learn how to navigate those situations—not alone, but with the help of others. Any other university that wants to implement their own Mental Health Action Week should first recognize other parts of student life that can support it, whether it’s their mental health resources on campus, other mental health/wellbeing-related organizations, or even—especially!—collaborations that aren’t necessarily directly correlated. Mental health is connected to every part of campus life; we can take action from many angles. Ultimately, the reason we wanted to call the ‘A’ in MHAW “action” instead of “awareness” is that it’s time we started creating a more welcoming space for people to use the resources at hand and feel less alone. It’s one thing to talk; it’s another to do. 

Purdue Pete, via Apuroopa Kavikondala

MB: I’m curious if you, Sunishka (MHAW President, 2026), and your team learned anything about yourselves and your own mental health during MHAW? Designing, creating, and giving something so expansive can be nourishing, of course. But it can also be a lot! In this type of role—which many will relate to across education and mental health care systems—how did you care for yourselves? 

AK: MHAW was definitely a time commitment, but the reason we were so willing to put the time needed into it is that it’s such a great cause—one that’s dear to all our hearts. Even though we organized MHAW, we definitely still felt its impact and resonance in our own lives. During organizing, outreach, and implementation, we made sure to divide tasks among ourselves, ask for help when there was a lot on our plates (because we are, of course, people and students first!), and just tried to do our best wherever possible. MHAW 2026 was possible, honestly, because of a dream team, and I truly am grateful for the reliability and hard work that everyone offered. 

Now the president of MHAW 2027, I’m incredibly excited to continue fostering this mission and environment on Purdue’s campus with our Boilermakers, because the impact won’t stay in West Lafayette; it’ll grow everywhere.